Songs from artists like Adele, Kendrick Lamar, Bob Dylan, and Green Day are unavailable on YouTube in the U.S. after the platform's contract with SESAC, a major performing rights organization, expired.
SESAC manages the licensing and royalties of over 1.5 million songs by thousands of artists. Their role is crucial in ensuring musicians are compensated when their music is played on platforms like YouTube.
YouTube confirmed that the legal dispute led to the block, stating: "Despite good faith negotiations, we were unable to reach an equitable agreement before the contract's expiration.
There’s no timeline yet for when the blocked music will return. The YouTube SESAC dispute reminds us of how tricky digital music licensing can be, but fans and artists are hopeful for a swift resolution.